SHANGLA: Residents of Kunshi area blocked the Karakoram Highway at Bisham Chowk here on Sunday night to protest the electrocution of a young man.

They alleged that the negligence of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company in the installation of a meter led to the death of Moinuddin, 19.

Shouting slogans against Pesco, the protesters from Kunshi and Shang areas placed the body on the highway and blocked it, suspending traffic.

The boy’s uncle, Fazal Mabood, claimed that Pesco line man Jan Sher and other workers visited the house of his nephew, a poor daily wager, to recover dues, and removed the meter from the pole.

Blame Pesco’s negligence for death

He said Pesco workers illegally removed the electricity meter that was Moinuddin’s property as he had already paid to Pesco for it.

Mr Mabood added that his nephew cleared Rs14,000 dues but even then, Pesco workers refused to re-install the meter and asked him to do it by himself.

He said Moin got an electric shock and died while re-installing the meter to restore electric supply from high-voltage cable.

“When we shifted Moinuddin to the hospital, he was declared dead by doctors,” he said.

The resident claimed that his nephew’s death was a murder and therefore, the Pesco staff concerned should be booked for punishment. He demanded compensation for the deceased’s family.

Resident retired captain Abbas Khan said Pesco workers didn’t fulfil their duty and forced the people to pay bills but didn’t re-install power meters.

He demanded of authorities and police to intervene for proper investigation into the matter to ensure justice to the deceased’s family and prevent such incidents in future.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after the local police promised action.

The protest inconvenienced road users.

When contacted, Bisham Pesco sub-division’s official Rehmat Wali said he didn’t ask for re-installation of the meter nor did he pay dues.

He claimed that the deceased had climbed to the pole without informing Pesco staff and caused his death but the Pesco SDO was not available to talk about the incident.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2023